When presidential candidate Donald Trump boasts that he will “Make America Great Again!” he implies that the country faces a multitude of problems in need of a solution. How do we decide which of these rises to the level of a “social problem”? This course is a critical exploration of three of the most pressing social problems in contemporary American society: residential segregation, mass incarceration, and political polarization. Through a sociological lens, we will examine how some issues, but not others, morph into social problems; the antecedents to and consequences of persistent social problems; and evaluate potential solutions. Throughout the course, we will consider whether providing solutions moves us toward a more just society, one in which everyone has an equal shot at achieving the American Dream.